Key release for calculating machines



Aug. 31, 1937.

H. w. CLARK 2,091,728

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1p A V 1 3mm Harold W Clark WV ZMEW Aug. 31, 1937.

H. w. CLARK 2,091,728

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Z I 6 I I so 46 'I ml? mm I' II IIF i' IW I, 5.9 41 I 52 I 55 f l' 44a wi -fi 2 4 46 I I 5 I! I :I T\ 1 61/ 47 I I '22 51 zz- H55 1 2 4 GE)E) @J G) E) lg I I l 25 5 za 5a 24 i I z i F 7- J 5 n2 III 5 1 I ll 1 I1,] ,l\ 48 I: I T I F 44 47 U a 49 4! I M I I I J -@@@@@@3@;1 l 9 "a? ax65 56 Aug. 31, 1937. w. CLARK 2,091,723

KEY RELEASE FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY RELEASE FORCALCULATING MACHINES corporation of Ohio Application August 24, 1936,Serial No. 97,582

8 Claims.

10 or department keys, or keys for any kind of listing for indicatingthe clerk handling the transaction or the department in which thetransaction is made or any other indication or listing desired. It isdesirable to print such code letter or designation at the time a totalis taken but with machines such as are now in general use it has beenimpossible to do this since the depressing of the clerks or departmentkey will not permit of printing the same with the total since the clerksor department key is released the instant the total key is depressed.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for printing acode letter or other designation at the same time that a total of atransaction is taken so as to indicate on the total any desired listing,such for instance as the clerk or department making the transaction.

In machines of this general type a pair of pivoted plates is providedadjacent to each bank of keys, one plate serving as a key lock to holdthe key in depressed position, the other plate serving as a rack barstop for normally locking against movement the rack bar which controlsthe calculating and printing mechanism.

A key release bar or comb is provided upon such machines adapted to beoperated by the rotation of the main shaft, either through the handlever or motor button as the case may be, said comb being provided witha plurality of wedge tteeth adapted to be projected between said pivotedlock plates to release any keys which are depressed, after the printingoperation and as the main shaft approaches the normal position. This keyrelease bar is also operated by the depression of the total key so thatno printing of any depressed key is accomplished when a total is taken.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means uponthe key release bar to prevent the same from releasing the key lock ingplate of the code key bank or banks when the total key is depressed,whereby the letter or other designation of any of the code keys will beprinted with the total.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description or which may be hereinafter referredto, may be accomplished by constructing the improved key releasemechanism in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a top plan view of a calculating machine of thegeneral type referred to;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the machinelooking from the rear, showing the improved key release mechanism, keysin several banks being shown depressed and the key release bar shown innormal position;

Fig. 3, a similar view showing the key release bar in position torelease the key locking plates of all banks excepting the code keys;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the key release bar atthe instant it releases the key locking plate of the code bank;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away showing the meansfor operating the key release bar through the operation of the main Z0shaft of the machine;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away showing the meansfor operating the key release bar by the total key;

Fig. '7, a detail sectional View showing one key in raised or normalposition;

Fig. 8, a similar view showing the key in depressed position; and

Fig. 9, a section taken as on the Fig. 7.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the drawings.

The machine may be mounted within a casing ill, of usual and well knownconstruction, in which a detail or record strip H is adapted to bepassed over a platen E2, in front of which an ink ribbon I3 is passed,whereby transactions upon the machine may be recorded on the detailstrip as by the type bars l4 responsive to the usual keys.

The particular machine shown is of the split or dual type such as usedin places of business where transactions from two or more differentdepartments of the business are recorded upon the same machine. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is by no means limitedto this split machine but may be used upon any machine of the generaltype referred to.

In the machine shown, several banks of amount keys l5 and iii areprovided for recording transactions in two different departments of abusiness and may be separated by a bank of code keys I! having lettersor other designations thereon to indicate, for instance, the clerkmakline 99,

similar parts disclosed in the patents above referred to.

ing the transaction. Additional banks of code keys may be added for anyother indication or listing. If desired, another bank or banks of keysshown at I8 may be provided for indicating the goods sold in atransaction, although this in itself has no reference to the particularinvention. However, the invention may be applied to such keys if it isdesired to print the name of the goods with the total.

The usual total key I9 is provided and the charge and paid out keys areshown at and 2f respectively, although these two latter keys inthemselves have no connection with the invention. The several type barsM are respectively responsive to the several banks of keys as in usualand well known manner.

The type bars l4 are each provided with a full set of figure, letter orspecial character type, and the different types are presented to theplaten l2 by vertical movement of the bars in usual and well knownmanner. This vertical movement of the type bars is controlled by thesame sliding rack bars 22 which serve for controlling the accumulatormechanism as in the manner The key stems 23 of the keys I5, l6, l1 andI8, as in usual practice cooperate as limiting stops for the rack bars22, and the movement of the rack bars in one direction is accomplishedby springs in a well known manner.

The stems 23 of all of the keys of each bank or set slide betweenlatching devices comprising a pair of spring pressed swinging latchingplates 24 and 25 which serve as a key lock and a rack lock respectively,as in usual and well known manner. As in common practice, these swingingplates are journaled at their upper edges in the corresponding endplates of the main frame of the machine and the effect of the usualsprings thereon is to normally close the plates of each bar upon thecorresponding key stems 23.

Each of the plates 25 is provided at one end with a depending leg 26which normally extends in front of one of the usual shoulders upon thecorresponding rack bar 22 but, as in usual manner, is moved laterallyout of the path of said shoulder upon the swinging of the plate 25.

Each of the plates 24, on the other hand, is provided with a series ofinstanding fingers 27, for holding the keys in their depressedpositions. As shown, notches 28 and 29 (Fig. 9) are formed in the keystems 23 and these notches register with the fingers 2'! in thedepressed and elevated positions of the keys respectively, as in usualand well known practice. In order that each plate 24 will be swungoutwardly against'the effort of the corresponding spring, upon thedepression of any key l5, l6, II or it, in the corresponding row, theupper portion of each finger 2'! is formed with an inclined shoulder 30for cam engagement with that part, as 3 l, of the key stem whichseparates the notches 28 and 29.

Similarly, each plate 25 is formed with a series of inturned fingers 32,which have cam engagement with the parts H of the key stems for swingingthe plates 25 outwardly upon the depression of any key in thecorresponding row. This construction provides that each rack bar 22 isreleased upon the depression of any key in the corresponding row, andalso that the depression of any key serves to release any previouslydepressed key in the same row.

The machine may be actuated with the familiar form of forwardly swingingoscillating handle 33 retracted by a main spring. The handle 33 is 10-cated at one side of the machine and is fixed to one end of the mainshaft 34. If desired, the main shaft may be operated by the usual motorbutton instead of the handle 33, as in ordinary practice. The main shaftextends transversely through the machine near its forward end and hasthe crank arms 35 fixed thereto at each side of the machine.

These crank arms serve for communicating motion through the link 35 andsegment 31 to the control shaft 38, which extends transversely throughthe main frame near its rear end. In the particular form of constructionillustrated in this application, the control shaft 38 has an oscillatingmovement similar to that of the main shaft 34.

In the form of machine illustrated, depression of the total key l9serves both to release all of the rack bars 22 and to clear the keyboardby swinging of the key lock and rack lock plates 24 and 25 respectively.For this purpose a comb 39 extends transversely through the machineimmediately in rear of the main frame. The teeth 49 of this comb serveas wedges for separating the plates 24 and 25 ofeach set.

To provide a support for the comb 39, its two ends 4! and 42 are turnedforwardly and pivotally secured against the side frame as at 43 (Fig. 5)and at M (Fig. 6) respectively. The end 42 of this comb extends beyondthe pivot 44, as shown in Fig. 6, into the path of a lug or stud 45carried by the sliding plate 46, which is depressed by the total key I9.

The comb 39 also serves for clearing the keyboard as the control shaft38 approaches its position of rest after each operation. As shown, apawl plate 41 (Fig. 5) is pivotally secured against the inturned end llof the comb as at 48. The lower end of this pawl plate extends into thepath of a stud 49, which is secured against the crank segment El uponthe inside of the same. During the forward movement of the control shaft38, the stud t9 lifts the pawl plate 41 without lifting the comb 39.

On the other hand, swinging of the pawl plate 41 in the other direction,independently of the comb 39, is prevented by providing the pawl platewith a projection 58 which extends over the pivot 43. As the disksegment 3'! approaches the limit of its return movement, the stud 49accordingly serves to engage the lower end of the pawl plate 41 andlifts the comb 39 to clear the keyboard.

The machine as thus far described is of usual and well knownconstruction of machines of this general type, and it will be seen thatin such machines it is impossible to print the designations controlledby any of the keys upon the keyboard at the time a total is taken,because the depression of the total key, through the lug t5 and pivotedinturned end 42 of the comb, swings the comb upward, projecting thewedge-shaped teeth thereof between the lock plates 24 and 25, releasingall of the keys and rack bars.

The present invention contemplates the application to such a machine ofmeans whereby a clerks or department letter or other designation, ascontrolled by the bank of code keys ll, may be printed at the time thetotal is taken so as to indicate the clerk or department making thetransaction, or any other desired designation.

This is accomplished by rendering the comb 39 inoperative as to theparticular bank or banks of keys desired when the total key isdepressed, by permitting the comb to function as to that particular bankor banks of keys after the printing operation has been accomplished andas the main shaft and comb approach the normal position.

To accomplish this result, the tooth 40 of the comb, which cooperateswith the lock plates of the bank of code keys IT, is cut away on theside toward the corresponding key lock plate 24. A bar 5| is mounted forsliding movement upon the comb 39, as by the studs 52 fixed upon therear sideof the comb received in the elongated slots 53 in the slidingbar 5|.

A tooth 54, similar in shape to the cut away tooth 40, is formed uponthe sliding bar 5| and adapted to normally overlap the cut away tooth40' of the comb, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the

sliding bar being normally held in this relative position upon the combas by the spring 55 connected to one end of the sliding bar 5| and to anadjacent portion of the frame of the machine.

A gravity cam plate 56 is pivoted as at 51 upon a bracket 58 fixed tothe frame of the machine and located above the comb 39, this cam platehaving an elongated slot 59 engaged by a stud 60 upon the bracket 58.The cam lug 6| upon the lower portion of the cam plate cooperates withthe stud 62 upon the adjacent end of the sliding bar 5|.

As the key release comb 39 is raised, the stud 62 upon the sliding bar5! engages the cam lug 6| of the gravity cam plate 56, swinging the camplate upward and to the right without causing any operation of thesliding bar 5|. As the comb reaches its extreme height, the cam lug 6|will fall into place below the stud 62.

Assuming that a key in the bank I! and keys in any of the banks l6 mayhave been depressed before the operation of the comb, the parts will bein the position as seen in Fig. 2. Upon depression of the total key tomove the comb into the position shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen thatthe lock plates 24 for all of the banks, excepting the bank of code keyswill have been released by the corresponding teeth 40 of the comb on itsupward movement, thus releasing any depressed keys in any banksexcepting the bank ll.

The cut away tooth 40' of the comb, which cooperates with the lockplates in the bank I'l,

will not swing the corresponding lock plate 24 outward to release thedepressed key in the bank H, as shown in Fig. 3. The operating handle 33may be pulled forward and allowed to move back to its normal position,operating the machine to print the total and with it the code letter ordesignation of the depressed key I1, said key remaining in the depressedcondition until the total key I9 is released, or the operating handleapproaches the end of its return movement. It should be understood thatthe machine is provided with the usual mechanism for locking the totalkey l9, and for releasing the same at m) the end of a cycle, suchmechanism being completely illustrated and described in Patent No.1,306,112 for Adding machine, granted June 10, 1919 and Patent No.1,336,840 for Listing machine, granted April 13, 1920 to Oliver D.Johantgen.

Upon the releasing of the total key, the spring 63 will pull the comb 39into normal position. As the comb moves down, the stud 52 upon thesliding bar 5| will ride over the cam lug 6| upon the cam plate 56,sliding the bar 5| to the left against the pull of the spring 55, asshown in Fig. 4, the finger 54 upon said bar engaging the lock plate 24of the bank releasing the same and permitting the depressed key ll toreturn to normal position, all as shown in Fig. 4.

As the comb 39 moves further downward to its normal position, the spring55 will pull the sliding bar 5|" back to the position shown in Fig. 2,moving the finger 54 of said sliding bar over the cut away finger 40 ofthe comb.

. It will thus be seen that code letters or designations upon any bankor banks of the keys may be printed with the total, thus accomplishing aresult which cannot possibly be obtained on machines of this generaltype such as are at present in general use.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class referred to, key stems of rows of keys, apair of swinging lock plates between which each row of key stems slide,cooperating cam lugs and shoulders on the plates and key stems, a combhaving wedge teeth movable between the plates for separating them torelease the key stems, a total key, means operated by the depressing ofthe total key to operate said comb to release the key stems, one of saidwedge teeth being cut away to prevent release of the corresponding rowof key stems when the total key is depressed, a tooth movably mountedupon said comb, and means for operating said movable tooth for releasingsaid row of key stems when the total key returns to normal position.

2. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys,latching devices one in each bank adapted to latch the keys in depressedposition, means cooperating with latching devices of certain orders torelease the keys thereof, means cooperating with the latching device ofone order to release the keys thereof, and a total key adapted tooperate both said means, said first means being effective on thedownward stroke of the total key, and said second means on the upwardstroke thereof.

3. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys,latching devices one in each bank adapted to latch the keys in depressedposition, means cooperating with latching devices of certain orders torelease the keys thereof, means cooperating with the latching device ofone order to release the keys thereof, a total key for control of totalprinting adapted to be depressed at the beginning of a cycle andreturned to normal substantially at the end of a cycle, and a memberassociated with said total key and adapted to operate both said means,said first means being elfective on the downward stroke of the totalkey, and said second means on the upward stroke thereof.

4. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys havingstems, a pair of latching plates between which each row of key stemsslide, adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, meanscooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release thekeys thereof, means cooperating with the latching plates of one order torelease the keys thereof, and a total key adapted to operate both saidmeans, said first means being effective on the downward stroke of thetotal key, and said second means on the upward stroke thereof.

5. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys havingstems, latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stems slideadapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having teethcooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to release thekeys thereof, a tooth upon said comb cooperating with the latching plateof one order, a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth to releasethe keys of said one order, and a total key adapted to operate saidcomb, said first teeth being effective on the downward stroke of saidtotal key, and said last tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

6. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys havingstems, swinging latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stemsslide adapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb havingteeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to releasethe keys thereof, a tooth upon said comb cooperating with the latchingplate of one order, a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth torelease the keys of said one order, and a total key adapted to operatesaid comb, said first teeth being effective on the downward stroke ofsaid total key, and said last tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

'7. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys havingstems, latching plates adjacent to which each row of key stems slideadapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having fixedteeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to releasethe keys thereof, a movable tooth upon said comb cooperating with thelatching plate of one order,

a gravity cam cooperating with said last tooth to release the keys ofsaid one order, and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said fixedteeth being eifective on the downward stroke of said total key, and saidmovable tooth on the upward stroke thereof.

8. In a calculating machine having a plurality of banks of keys havingstems, latching plates adjacent to which key stems of each row slideadapted to latch the keys in depressed position, a comb having fixedteeth cooperating with the latching plates of certain orders to releasethe keys thereof, a sliding bar upon said comb, a tooth upon saidsliding bar cooperating with a latching plate of one order to releasethe keys thereof, a gravity cam plate cooperating with said sliding bar,and a total key adapted to operate said comb, said fixed teeth beingeffective on the downward stroke of said total key, and saidgtooth uponthe sliding bar being rendered efiective by said cam plate on the upwardstroke thereof.

HAROLD W. CLARK.

